Vehicular traffic-signal switch



Nov.` 19, 1929. w. w. BUGH 1,736,069

VEHICLE TRAFFIC SIGNAL SWITCH Original Filed April 5, 1927 Il' lln NaZcZOe 'N' ^Patented Nov.. 19, 1929 y UNITED 4s'laras PATENT-OFFICE WALLACE W. B'UGH, 0l' NORTH TONAWANDA, NEW YORK VEHICULAR TBAFFG-SIQGNAL SWITCH Original application Sled April 5, 1927, Serial No. 181,225. Divided and this application lied lay 5, 1988.

' Serial Io. 275,351.

This application is a division 'of that for A box 5 is attached to the V-bracket Band which, on the 5th day of April, 1927, I made provides a housing for the switch mechanism application for patent in the United States, and may be of determinate construction. A Serial No. 181,225, and relates to anovel and shaft 6 extends through the box 5 .and is peculiar switch. mechanism and a unique re-` mounted in the front and rear walls thereof, 55 setting mechanism, the switch mechanism eniand is electrically insulated therefrom in any bodying a few number of parts and utilizing preferred way. A handle 7 is fast to the certain switch elements as means for holding rear end of the shaft and is conveniently pothe lpivoted switchv member in normal p0# sitioned so as to be readily accessible whenl lo sition, thereb obviating the necessity 'for it is required to operate the signal li ht. o y. providing ad itional springs and stops for A'plate 8 within the box or housing 5 is such purpose. fast to the shaft 6 and carries two pins 9 lWhile the drawing illustrates a preferred and 10 which have a parallel relation and 'embodiment'of the invention, it is to be unroject from opposite sides of the plate.

mderstood that in adaptingthe means to meet hese pins constitute bridge pieces whereby 65 specific needs and re uirements thedesign to electrically4 connect vtheterminals of the may be varied and suc other changes in the respective light circuits. minor details ofconstruction may be res rted V-shaped' contact members 11 and 12 are to .within the scope of the inventio as located 'within the box or housing 5 and are claimed, without departing from the splrit` adapted to cooperate with the pins 9 and 10. 70`

.thereon The diverging elements 13 comprising the For a full understanding of the invention member 11 constitute spring terminals, the and themerits thereof, reference is to be ends' of which are-depressed as indicated at had to the following description, and the 13 and reject, as indica at 13", to form ais-drawing hereto attached, in which, stops. he diverging elements 12 of the 75 Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of member 12 constitute spring terminals, the a signal light switch mechanism embodying end portions of which aresimilai-ly depressed the invention, showing lit applied to aI steerandextended in substantiall the same man ing post which is illustrated in section; ner as the end portions oft e spring termi '30 Figure 2 is a sectional view of the switch nals 13. Other spring terminals 14 are pro- 80 4-4 of Figure 3. arranged so that norma on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. vided to cooperate with .the s Figure 3 is a sectional view' on the line 12a and are reversely d i v :n their end por- 3'-3 of Figure 2. tions being depressed, as indicated at 14 and Figure 4 is a sectional view o n the line extendedto provide stops 14". The'parts are e ly the-pins 9 and 10 35` Corresponding and like parts are referred engageth'e extended ends 13 and 14"' of the to in the following" description and desigrespective spring terminals 13 and 14 without vnaiedv vin/theseveral views of the drawing touching the spring terminals 12, hence the by like reference characters. Alight circuits are normally open. When the 40 The numeral l-1 designates the usu. l steeI shaft 6 is turned in a clock-wise direction the 90 terminals ing post of a motor vehicle and -3 a rae t pin 1 0 is depressed andengages the spring "mounted thereon and secured thereto by terminal 12., thereby closmg the light circuits. .means of a shackle 4 which embraces the The pin 10 snaps intp the depressions of the steering post and lias itsthreaded ends enseveral spring terminal s 13, 14 .and 1 2* and gaging terminal portions of a depending por-jf is retained in such position until the' switch 95 tion Toi the bracket, which as shown, most is trip ed and restored normal position fclearly in- Figure 1 of the drawings, is cut when t e steering wheel is set to direct the away to receive'the steering post, thev cut vehicle straight ahead after the indicated turn ."awavportionbeing of V'-ou'tl1ne to adapt the to the right has been made. bracket to different sizes of steering posts'. When the shaft 6 is turned in a couiiter-L` 100 clockwise direction the pin 9 is depressed, andA makes contact with the elements 12a, thereby connecting the left hand light circuits, and indicating the intention of the driver to make a left turn. The pin 9 snaps into the depressions of the spring terminals 13, 14 and 12 and is retained in such position until the switch is tripped by turning the steering wheel 2 to direct the vehicle straight ahead after the left turn has been made. When the switch is in neutral position, the pins 9.and 10 areengaged by the terminal extensions ot the element-s 13 and 14, and clear the spring terminals 12, hence the light circuits are opened. It will thus be understood that the extensions of the spring terminals 13 and 14 constitute stops and guides and obviate the necessityf for providing extraneous stop and guide means.

A plate 20 is fast to the forward end of the shaft 6, beyond the box or housing 5. The plate 20 has an extension 21 which forms stop shoulders'to limit the movement of dogs 22 which are pivoted intermediate their ends to the plate 20. A contractile spring 23 connects the lower ends of the dogs 22 and holds them in contact with the stop shoulders provided by the extension 2l. The upper ends of the dogs 22 are beveled, as indicated at 24.

Normally the dogs. 22 occupy a vertical position, as indicated by full lines in Figure 4,

and assume an inclined position accordingly as the shaft 6 is turned to the right or to the left. A' pair of pins 25 project from the hub of the steering wheel, and are adapted to cooperate with 'each of the dogs 22. Assuming that the handle 7 is turned to the right, the pin 10 is depressed and bridges the spring terminals at the right and closes the light circuits in which said terminals are included.

This causes the plate 20 and dogs 22 to assume the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 4. The signal circuits are closed in advance of making the turn, thereby giving ample warning ot the intention of the driver.

When the vehicle is turning right around ag corner, one of the pins 25 engages the upper projecting end of the left hand dog 22 which pivots to admit of the pin 25 clearing the same. After the turn has been made and the vehicle is directed straight ahead the pin'25 previously clearing the dog 22 engages and actuates said dog, thereby tripping the switch and automaticallybreaking the light circuits previously closed and restoring the switch to normal position, as will be readily understood.

A pair of contacts 26 is located at each side of the box or housing 5 and the contacts of each pair are adapted to be bridged'by the respect-ive circuit closing pins 9 and 10. Corresponding contacts of each pair are electrically connected, as indicated most clearly in Figure 2. When the set or group of con-4 tacts-at the. right are closed by the pin 10, the pair of contacts 26 at the left are closed by the pin 9 and vice versa. These pairs of contacts 26 are included in a. circuit which contains a device 27 for interrupting the circuit .whereby to produce a flash signal instead of a continuously illuminated signal, thereby being' more attractive. Binding posts 28 have the airs of contacts 26 electrically connected t creto, and these binding posts are adapted to have the lead wires `from the battery or source of supply connected thereto. Binding posts 29 applied to the bottom of the box or housing 5 have the respective contacts 11, 12 and 14 connectedv thereto and the lead wires from the battery in connection therewith.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. In combination with the switch mechanism of directional signal circuits for a vehicle, including a pivoted switch member and oppositely disposed'circuit closing contacts, a resetting mechanism for restoring i oted to said plate and yieldably connectedl to each other and stops carried by the steering wheel, and adapted to engage either one of the dogs to actuate the resetting mechanism upon returning the steering wheel to a straight ahead'position.

2. A- direction signal for vehicles, the same comprising a pivoted switch member, oppositely disposed contacts, a circuit closing element carried by the pivoted switch member,A a plate fixed to the pivoted switch member to turn therewith, said plate having stop shoulders, a pair of dogs pivoted to vsaid plate and adapted to normally engage the shoulders to limit the pivotal movement thereof in one direction, and stop pins car- 

